The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-31
SWEPT BY MAD FLAMES.
wEISBEIN'S AND LOWELL 81 SONS
BUILDINGS BURNED.

Damaged-Lack of Water Response
BILE for Much of the Loss-Three Fire
men Injured-The Losses and Insur-
Fire.
Fire broke out in David Weisbien's dry
goods store, no. t53 Broughton street. at
$3.50 O'Clock last night, and before it was got
under control three buildings were burned
and Sl25,O00 in property was destroyed.
The fire was discovered by a little negro
boy, who stood in front of the building and
cried 'Firen' Fire!n until a crowd collected.
A second laters smoke was rolling from
the windows of the third floor in front. The
glass had been blown from the frames and
great volumes of thick, black smoke poured
out. Back in the lane the scene was differ
ent. From the second-story windows the
flames were leaping and quickly communi-
Gated to the floor above. The fire had
good start, and it was evident that it had
been burning for some time before it was
discovered.
AN ALARM TURNED IN.
That was the condition when the
alarm was turned in, and
though the firemen responded promptly the
flames had much the start of them, and it
was apparent that the department. could do
nothing more than check the fire and pre-
vent its spreading The engines started to
work, but the pressure of the water was
very light and very little could be accom-
plished The streams just reached to the
second story windows and fell over the sills,
hardly touching the flames. By this time
the whole of the rear portion of the second
and third floors were on fire and were burn
ing furiously.
The flames shot out of the windows with
force that showed how strong was the
pressure of the atmosphere within. The
fire burned unchecked in the rear portion,
and workedits way steadily to the front.
Looking into the front windows
could first be seen just a
faint pink hue, then deep
dark red was perceptible through the smoke,
then the flames burst in volumes from all
three of the upper windows, lighting up the
street for blocks away. The water was then
flowing more freely through the pipes and
the streams were turned on the blaze,
driving it back into the building, but only
to burst out again with renewed violence.
THE ENTIRE BUILDING IN FLAMES.
The fire by this time had reached the
front of the second story and
- the flames poured out and reached one to
to the other, covering the whole building
with sheet of fame. Again they were
forced back, and the smoke was thicker and
blacker than ever until fire broke out
again.
At 1918 o'clock the building began to give
way. Pieces of the cornice fell on the side
walk, and upon the firemen who were at
work on the ladders. The pitch was boiled
out of the pine, and it fell not and burning
upon the men, but only few of them were
SO badly hurt that they could not work
The timbers in the upper floor began to
weaken and the flames had reached the
sroof. Then they spread to the adjoining
building occupied by Edward Lowell &
Twas quickly burned through and fell to the
third floor and then to the second Both
buildings were ablaze above the first floor
and the fire burned more fiercely than can
be imagined.
THE ROOF BLOWN OFF.
The roar was terrific. At 1890 there was
a terrific explosion which was felt for half a
mile distant. The gas pipes had been dis
connected and there was free escapement
Of gas that could not find immediate exit
and the explosion was the result. All that
was left of the roof of Lovell's store was
blown off and a portion of the west
wall toppled over and fell upon the adj
joining store occupied by Mr. Sternbug,
crushing in the roof and started the blaze
there. The rafters in the other build
ings. from which the flooring had been
burned, began to give way. One by one
they fell, seeming TO melt under the intense
heat.
s. Krouskof, millinery store, east of Weis-
bein's caught and began to burn in the
third floor, but the flames were soon extin-
gllished The fire was then burning fiercely
in the Weisbein and Lovela and
as the roofs were gone it leaped up in solid
,NfH 30 ~
arose whitish smoke, carrying with it
cinders and pieces of burning wood that fell
on the roofs of adjoining buildings,
ann those on the opposite side of
The street. By IL o'clock the
fire had devouued all that there was for it,
and it began to die down under the efforts
of the firemen, who were playing streams
from all Sides A midnight only the snoz-
ing ruins and the bare and blackened walls
were left.
WATCHING THE FIRE.
An enormous crowd gathered in the street,
but was kept back from in front of the
burning buildings by the police. A drizzling
rain was falling, but curiosity was stronger
than dislike for wetting, and through it
all the crowd stood watching the kalelde-
scopic changes in the terrible picture.
When the explosion occurred there was
a rush in every direction. Everyone
thought that the walls were falling and
hurried to get out of danger Had it not
been that all eyes were turned to see the
fall, and that every one saw the walls stand
ing, there would have been fatal stampede,
but panic was fortunately avoided
There are several theories as to the origin
Of the fire, but none are satisfactory The
stores were all closed except one, and none
of the employees at WesbeinS can remember
that any combustible was left exposed
Weisbein's was the middle of row of three
stores. East of him was S.
Krouskoff's millinery establishment and
west the hardware store of Edward Lowell
& Sons, and west of them, but in another
building was the jewelry house of NJ. Stern
berg.
WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
The fire originated in the rear of the sec
ond story Of Weisbein's store, but what
started it is a mystery. Because
OF the rumors of incendiaries
the report was circulated that
1t was set on fire, but for this there seemed
b be no foundation Mr. Weisbein said
that there was nothing in the store that he
knew Of that could start IA fire. There was
no light, and the matches We're locked up in
the cash drawer in the front OF the build
ing. Mr.. Charles ID. Singleton, chief clerk,
sad that he was the last man
out of the house last night He
locked up at G:S5 O'Clock, and before he left